A colliery blast in north China's Shanxi Province on Friday has trapped 43 miners underground, local authorities said.

The explosion occurred at about 11 a.m. in Anxin Coal Mining Co. Ltd in Xiaoyi City. A total of 58 miners were working underground at the time, 15 of whom were saved after the blast, according to Xiaoyi officials.

The mine's licenses and certificates were valid and it passed the safety check earlier this year, officials said.

A rescue operation was continuing to search for the trapped miners.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2008)